2026 Government Shutdown NoticeUpdated 5 days ago

Important Updates for Captain’s Licenses During the Shutdown

March 26, 2026, Update

The National Maritime Center (NMC) will begin issuing medical certificates electronically via e-mail effective Wednesday, April 1, 2026. 

Certificates must be signed to be valid.  It is also recommended that mariners print and maintain a signed certificate for their use. 

Read more about what this means to you here.

March 24, 2026, Update

The National Maritime Center (NMC) has resolved the technical difficulties affecting the Application Submission and Additional Information Portal (ASAP). The portal is now available, and mariners may resume submitting applications and documents.

March 23, 2026, Update

As of March 23, 2026, when a captain's license applicant attempts to access ASAP, they may encounter this error message: 

The National Maritime Center is aware of this issue, but due to the government shutdown, they do not have an updated status of when it will be fixed. Currently, they can only advise holding onto all documentation until the portal is back up, then sending it in once the portal is fixed. 

What students should do:

• Hold onto all application documents until the portal is back online
• Check the ASAP portal once per day for access
• Submit documents as soon as the portal becomes available again to avoid further delays
• Contact the National Maritime Center directly with questions about portal status or submission issues

Important: The ASAP portal is managed by the U.S. Coast Guard, so Mariners Learning System is not able to restore access or provide an estimated resolution time.

March 19, 2026, Update

The U.S. Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center (NMC) and all Regional Examination Centers (RECs) remain closed due to the lapse in federal appropriations. This means:

• No in-person exams

• No appointments

• No application processing

Below is important guidance for captains and mariners affected by this shutdown.

Can I still submit my captain's license application? 

✅ Yes! If you are ready to submit your captain's license application, we strongly recommend submitting it now. Do not wait for the government to reopen.

• You may continue to submit applications and supporting documentation through the NMC Application Submission and Additional Information Portal (ASAP)

• Processing will resume once appropriations are restored

When will my application packet be processed? 

Applications will be held during the shutdown. Once funding is fully restored, the NMC will resume processing all pending applications.

How does this impact my Course Completion Certificate? 

Additional information letters, approval to test letters, and mariner training course completion certificates that expire between February and April 2026 are extended until June 30, 2026. The NMC will not issue updated letters reflecting the extension.

How does this impact my current captain's license that expires in October 2025? 

Merchant Mariner Credentials (National Endorsements only) and Medical Certificates (National and Pilot expiration dates only) that expire between January 1 and April 30, 2026, remain valid until June 30, 2026. 

Mariners actively working on expired credentials that meet this criteria must carry:

1. Their expired credential, and

2. A copy of the official Coast Guard Update #2 Extension Letter (download link below)

Can I get a replacement MMC or Medical Certificate during the shutdown? 

No. The NMC will not issue separate or replacement MMCs or Medical Certificates reflecting the extension.

Can I still contact the National Maritime Center during this time?

Their Customer Service Center will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. You can contact them via the NMC online chat system, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662). 

Where can I read all the announcements and stay up to date?

To read the full National Maritime Center announcements, click on the following links: 

• February 2, 2026: Lapse in Appropriations and Government Shutdown
• February 17, 2026: Lapse in Appropriations and Government Shutdown
• February 20, 2026: Lapse in Appropriations and Government Shutdown UPDATE #1:  Mitigation Efforts – Extensions
• March 19, 2026: Lapse in Appropriations and Government Shutdown UPDATE #2:  Mitigation Efforts – Extensions 
• March 26, 2026: Upcoming Launch: E-mail Delivery of Medical Certificates

You can keep up-to-date on future announcements by going to the National Maritime Center's homepage and scrolling down to its announcements section.